Final answer:
The Electoral College process favors a two-party system, influenced by plurality voting rules and historical precedent, which poses significant challenges for third parties to succeed in U.S. national politics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Electoral College process favors a two-party system. This is the result of plurality voting rules used in the United States, which often leads to a political landscape dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties.
The winner-take-all approach of the Electoral College means that even if a third party wins a significant portion of the popular vote, without winning the popular vote in enough states, they are unlikely to gain any electoral votes, making it challenging for third parties to succeed.
Additionally, historical roots and the nation's system of federalism play a role in reinforcing the two-party system. The two-party system is further entrenched by the fact that the U.S. does not practice proportional representation; legislative seats are not allocated based on the percentage of the vote each party wins. Therefore, minor parties often struggle to secure a foothold in national politics due to these electoral rules.